This flattering shirt is hand-dyed in Bali in the village of Padangsambian. Artisans use traditional batik methods to apply melted wax to fabric, using hand-carved stamps. When the fabric is dyed, the waxed areas resist the dye, and the pattern emerges when the wax is removed.

Hand-wash. We recommend washing before wearing to remove any lingering scent from the batik-dyeing process.

The wax-resist dyeing technique of batik has been found from Egypt to Mali and from India to Malaysia, as early as 2,000 years ago. The most exquisite batik comes from Indonesia, where the technique has evolved into high art over the past few centuries.

The most traditional form of batik begins with a needle-like object called a canting, through which melted wax flows as the artists uses it to draw a design or pattern on fabric. When the fabric is placed in a dye vat, the color will not permeate the areas that have been permeated with wax. For more complex patterns, this wax and dye process can be repeated with any number of dye colors. After the final dip into the dye vat, the fabric is hung to dry and the wax is dissolved in a solvent or melted away with a hot iron, revealing the previous layers of protected fabric as well as the crackling lines that are the hallmark of batik.

In the 20th century, Javanese batik artists developed a process by which batik could be executed more quickly, but still by hand. Now, a copper block is often used to transfer wax in a predetermined pattern over a larger area. While still most frequently found on fabric, batik can be done on paper, wood, or even ceramic.

When I opened this product it was as pretty as it looked on line but smelled very bad. I decided to take a chance that washing would take care of the problem and since washing it smells somewhat better. Maybe another washing will get rid of the smell. Could it have been packed in plastic too long? On the pro side, it fits well (true to size) and the colors are great. The fabric is not exactly what I expected but I'm giving it a try since it was reduced in price.

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Visitors to Bali usually begin their journey in the island’s capital of Denpasar. This thriving city is home to a large percentage of Indonesia’s craft studios, and the handmade batik fabric that Bali is known for can be found in markets and boutiques throughout the city.

Flowers bloom across this 3/4-sleeve cotton shirt. Artisans in Denpasar, the capital of Bali and part of the Sundaland biogeographic region, use traditional batik techniques to create the soft outlines. They apply the design to cotton, using copper stamps and melted wax. When the fabric is dyed navy blue, the wax-impregnated areas remain white. The shirt is then washed and dried in the sun. The undyed areas are hand-colored, and hand-beaded accents are added.

In Denpasar, the capital of the Indonesian island of Bali, textile artisans adapt traditional techniques like batik and beading to contemporary styles. This long-sleeved turquoise shirt features stamped floral designs with appliquéd ribbons and hand-beaded accents.

Artisans in India mimic traditional embroidery patterns by using wax-resist batik to create an ivory-hued design along the neckline, hem, and sleeves of this cotton-knit tunic. Butterflies also decorate the navy and turquoise tie-dyed background. Clear sequins add sparkle to a casual split-V-neck, 3/4-sleeve design.

Popular nationwide since the 1930s, the aloha shirt reflects Hawaii’s island culture and Japanese cultural influence. Once made from imported kimono fabric, these casual-Friday classics are worn in Hawaii for all but the most formal occasions. The colorful, crease-resistant cotton lawn fabric is breathable and looks polished even in hot or humid weather. Features mother-of-pearl shell buttons. Handmade in Honolulu, Hawaii, by the only American manufacturer of its kind.

In the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, houses are often decorated with mandana paintings. This traditional folk art is often painted on the earthen walls, or on ground in front of one’s home, using red sand, ocher, and chalk powder, and the patterns often allude to Hindu gods, offering prayers for rain, a good harvest, good health, and more.

Patola is a form of double-ikat weaving, meaning that both the warp (vertical) and weft (horizontal) threads are dyed before being strung on the loom. This intricate process results in a bold pattern, often on a red background. It is practiced in many parts of Southeast Asia but is a particular specialty of Gujarat, where silk patola saris are often part of a bride’s trousseau.

Turquoise is a powerful ritual material in Himalayan cultures, representing the clear blue of the sky. It is sometimes used as a gift to one’s betrothed, and the color is said to stay true as long as the lover’s affection does. This modern interpretation of a classic design features vibrant turquoise inlaid in sterling silver. Handmade in Nepal by members of the Shakya clan, descendants of an ancient culture that was traditionally known for its metalwork and whose capital was in present-day Nepal.

Did you know that the name for the deep blue-green stone we call turquoise is actually based on misinformation? It’s from the French word for Turkish, because European traders found the stone at Turkish bazaars and assumed it was mined nearby, although what they found was most likely from present-day Iran. Nevertheless, Turkish jewelers are known for their inventive designs, as evidenced by the ornate treasures of the Ottoman Topkapi Palace.

Did you know that name for the deep blue-green stone we call turquoise is actually based on misinformation? It’s from the French word for Turkish, because European traders found the stone at Turkish bazaars and assumed it was mined nearby, although what they found was most likely from present-day Iran. Nevertheless, Turkish jewelers are known for their inventive designs, as evidenced by the ornate treasures of the Ottoman Topkapi Palace.

Celebrate 125 years of inspiring people to care about the planet with this commemorative gray T-shirt, featuring a map of the world along with National Geographic’s iconic yellow border. Printed on 100% organic ring-spun cotton.